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Four days after the Trinidad and Tobago national women’s team flew to the United States for a pre-CONCACAF Championship training camp with just US$500, the team is still awaiting the promised funding from the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA).
And the Ministry of Sport revealed that the TTFA’s request for sponsorship was so late that it only landed at its office on Tuesday evening when the “Soca Princesses” were already at the Piarco International Airport.
Yet, last night, the only apology for the humiliating debacle came from the TTFA’s women’s coach, American native Randy Waldrum, who said sorry for the tweet that provoked an outpouring of goodwill in Dallas and red faces in Trinidad and Tobago.
(Courtesy ESPN)
On Wednesday morning, as his team started training without water and with no money for lunch, Waldrum tweeted: “I need HELP! T&T sent a team here last night with $500 total. No equipment such as balls, no transportation from airport to hotel, nothing…
“I don’t know how I’m going to feed these players starting at lunch today! If you know of anyone in Dallas area that will help with food, etc.”
By lunch, national players said random people started turning up with water and snacks while, by dinner, they received pizza from well-wishers. And, by the following morning, there was over US$10,000 in an account the coach set up for the team.
Even the Haitian women’s football team, who the Warriors will face in a vital World Cup qualifier next week, pledged just over US$1,300 to the Princesses.
“Coach takes a stand for the team and look what happened,” wrote Caribbean Cup MVP and T&T striker Mariah Shade, on her Facebook account. “People from all over Dallas are just bringing us carloads of water, Gatorade, food, fruits, snacks and so much more.
“People in another country treating us like this; we are very grateful. #BlessingsInAbundance.”
Trinidad and Tobago national women’s team coach Randy Waldrum apologised for his tweets for financial aid.
However, TTFA president Raymond Tim Kee suggested that Waldrum suffered an “emotional disturbance” and, although he conceded that his administration had erred, it was only Waldrum who was asked to apologise.
“The response was overwhelming however in hindsight the language used to appeal for assistance could have been better,” stated Waldrum, via a TTFA press release yesterday, “and was not meant to cause any embarrassment to the TTFA nor the Trinidad and Tobago public at large.
“If it did by any chance, I apologize in advance for any embarrassment caused.”
Waldrum also thanked Petrotrin again for allowing his team use of its facility before the players left for the United States; although, in a previous tweet, he expressed dissatisfaction with the condition of the club house.
For now, Waldrum wants to put the matter behind him and focus on preparing his team for the World Cup qualifiers. Not that there is any chance his tweet will not be the talk of the tournament.
“I am passionate about my players and in making Trinidad and Tobago proud, and like yourself, I understand the tremendous opportunity that lies before us,” stated Waldrum, who led the Princesses to the Caribbean Cup title while working pro bono. “Thank you for all your efforts in light of a very difficult and challenging situation and would like to thank the people that came to our aid including the hundreds of donors, supporters, Ministry of Sport and Petrotrin.”
(Courtesy Jinelle James/Wired868)
Trinidad and Tobago captain Maylee Attin-Johnson, in a previous interview with Wired868, gave a more sober analysis.
“Our preparation was abysmal,” said Attin-Johnson. “It was what we didn’t expect after being champions of the Caribbean. But that is water under the bridge now.
“We just have to see what we can do, now that we have all the girls together, to get to the World Cup.”
For the Tim Kee, who is also Port of Spain Mayor and PNM treasurer, and his general secretary Sheldon Phillips, it was just one more embarrassing cock-up to their list.
Since Tim Kee took over the helm of the football body in December 2012, the football body has: failed to audit the body’s accounts, misled the public over an Akeem Adams fundraiser, failed to properly convene its finance committee, reversed a promise to chase funds allegedly siphoned out of the football body by former special advisor Jack Warner, failed to pay technical director Anton Corneal as well as replace him after his resignation, failed to honour courtroom promises made to the 2006 World Cup players and former coach Russell Latapy, hired and fired coaches without approval from the TTFA executive committee and botched administrative duties like making timely requests for funding, selecting local players for a MLS camp, hiring referees for a FA Trophy clash and mediating club disputes at Super League level.
And, this week, the national women’s team was on a plane for Dallas without a single accompanying technical staff member and not even a dollar to pay for transport from the airport to their hotel. Worse, the football body had not even formally requested money to give to the Princesses until that very evening.
Fortunately, one player’s parent, Kenrick Hoyte, is a customs officer and he, along with a TTFA staff member, dipped in their personal bank accounts and came up with US$500, which he gave to the women while they were on the plane.
Tim Kee said his administration’s behaviour was “unpardonable.” But he did not offer an apology for it; nor did he sanction any TTFA staff member and, in particular, his General Secretary for their roles in the farce.
He ensured that Waldrum said sorry though.
(Apology in full)
Randy Waldrum:
Dear Mr. Tim Kee,
As part of my preparation for the upcoming CONCACAF tournament, I have worked under the full awareness of the financial difficulties facing the TTFA, especially its battle to raise awareness and financial support to provide the required level of resources for its women’s national team programs.
Our recent camp in Palo Seco was organized in response to my request for a proper residential camp. Once again, realizing the financial situation of the FA, I worked tirelessly with your General Secretary who successfully lobbied Petrotrin to graciously provide the beach camp facility for free to start our national team preparations.
Concurrently, plans were being put in place to have a 7-day camp in Dallas where I would be able to secure some additional resources to continue the team’s preparation.
However, when eleven players arrived to Dallas on Monday October 6, at that time I had only received partial itinerary information from the team manager with some insight on what was being done in Trinidad regarding the release of funds.
Understanding the challenges the TTFA, I sent out a message on social media site Twitter asking for assistance.
The response was overwhelming however in hindsight, the language used to appeal for assistance could have been better and was not meant to cause any embarrassment to the TTFA nor the Trinidad and Tobago public at large. If it did by any chance, I apologize in advance for any embarrassment caused.
I am passionate about my players and in making Trinidad and Tobago proud, and like yourself, I understand the tremendous opportunity that lies before us.
Thank you for all your efforts in light of a very difficult and challenging situation and would like to thank the people that came to our aid including the hundreds of donors, supporters,Ministry of Sport and Petrotrin.
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Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.
Waldrun definitely brought great embarrassment to T&T by his chosen approach in dealing with the matter. Is there any doubt about that?
Waldrum’s apologize though unnecessary shows who is the real professional. I take my hat off to Waldrum. It’s all about doing what’s right regardless of the implication or perceived negative consequences. The desired outcome on behalf of the T&T Soca Princesses’ well-being was achieved. I say again, if this coach was a T&T local he/she would have been ostracized, terminated and blacklisted, not only be the powers that be but by many Trinidadians.
Let’s put ourselves in coach Waldrum’s shoes.
Did he embarrass T&T or did the TTFA?
{Randy Waldrum ✔ @CoachWaldrum
I need HELP! T&T sent a team here last night with $500 total. No equipment such as balls,no transportation from airport to hotel, nothing.} This tweet is where we should start in identifying the cause of the international embarrassment. Was this the best way to resolve the situation? Could it have been handled differently and without bringing our nation further into disrepute?
Does anyone even know what the TTFA’s response to this was?
If he had done so Gerard it would be prudent to articulate that to a concerned public to reassure them something is being done.
Holding someone accountable and doing so in public are two entirely different things. Tim Kee would have been very wrong to throw either the Coach or Phillips under the bus in order to save his own face – that is NOT leadership! Hopefully, what he has done is to properly investigate why the fiasco occurred, find out where anyone may have fallen short and taken steps to prevent a recurrence. Anything else is plain dotishness in my view.
On Tuesday, when this story broke, the #1 News Programme calls Tim Kee and I’m shaking my head.
Is it?
If I f**k up at work, my superiors will not take the fall for me. My superiors will facilitate my removal in order to improve the performance of the institution.
If Tim Kee “simply allow them to make fools of themselves when they realise they’e been asking the wrong person the right questions”, how will that help improve the TTFA?
Isn’t the point of him being there to help improve the TTFA?
Hint: Sloppy Journalists.
In the 80s, when things went wrong in football, the person to ask questions was Jack Warner, because people knew he, as General Secretary of the TTFA, ran the body’s affairs.
What has changed now?
Well, the thing about media is that they love to focus where their biases lie. And are sloppy in their work as a result.
PNM is an easy target. Yes, Tim Kee can direct them to Phillips, or he can simply allow them to make fools of themselves when they realise they’e been asking the wrong person the right questions.
And how is it that no one in authority pointed a finger at Sheldon Phillips, Anthony, could it be that they are happy not to hold anyone accountable.
Had I been Tim Kee and everyone was calling for my head over this, I would redirect them to Phillips right away.
Disgraceful to say the least. Someone must be held accountable for this. Can you imagine US $500.00 to take care of the team! What an embarrassment to TT having to beg with all their grand charge!
This would be akin to training our guns on Carmona for the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill, and the person who is responsible for its drawing and presentation in Parliament is…?
Sheldon Phillips.
And we’re focusing on Tim Kee.
So Anthony who is responsible?
That question is always hanging over the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, it is also never answered…………..in this country of thousands in authority, no one is ever responsible!
Also – has Tim Kee’s record been so wonderful before this?
We’ve trained our guns on Tim Kee simply because we know he holds a high post in the PNM. At NO POINT have we asked questions of Sheldon Phillips, General Secretary of the TTFA – who is responsible for the day-to-day running and overall control of the Association.
Gerard, normally not on a single incident – but doesn’t the significance of the incident count as much as the frequency? In this case, embarassment on a scale which brings us international negative attention?
It wasn’t just his performance Gerard, his response to the gaffe does not bode well for future performances.
Did he take responsibility, how do we know that he learned anything from this mishap if he does not hold himself accountable?
If no one did anything wrong, how will we improve?
I don’t think it benefits Tim Kee. He’s in an unpaid, non-executive, non-administrative position.
While we focus on Tim Kee (more or less because he holds a high post in the executive of a political party we love to hate and because he’s also the mayor of the capital city), we’re completely ignoring the actual executive and administration of the TTFA – who is ultimately responsible for this mess.
This is like November 19, 1989. Was the stadium fiasco Oliver Camps’ fault as President? Or Jack Warner’s as General Secretary (and head of administration)?
That is a a very simplistic approach though Vernal, don’t you agree? Does one really base an objective performance appraisal on a single incident or does it make more sense to assess ones overall performance against defined objectives – for the Head of an organisation, surely more weighty issues ought to be considered. I would certainly seriously consider the Coach’s chosen approach in dealing with the issue to be much more in question here.
It benefits no one but Tim Kee to keep him there.
I don’t think we should wait for a second or a third gaffe before he is removed, do it now.
I really don’t agree that the issue is one that calls for the resignation of the President of the TTFA. Accountability, by all means, but let’s not get carried away.
Using Pinard’s logic President Nixon got carried away and therefore resigned for nothing ! This is proof positive why in T&T we had and have lots of Managers but no real Leaders – they occupy posts but are underachieving incompetents all. I cry for my beloved country !
Nothing will change in TnT on the whole. It takes a BIG MAN to apologize for doing the right thing and a little boy will make you apologize while they continue to strut like a peacock and do nothing.
Joann, don’t despair; things will change in time. It just needs many more BIG MAN/WOMAN doing what is right across the whole spectrum of our society, regardless of personal consequences which may result. I hope to live long enough to see it happen !
When will this end? This farce of an administration responsible for our athletes. They deserve so much better. This is maddening!
Mediocrity is joke, the new national religion is ineptitude!
We have this uncanny ability putting the wrong people to do certain jobs. Same thing over and over and over…jeeez
I fully endorse Vernal Damion Cadogan sentiments. We accept too much mediocrity in this country.
Tim Kee moving like a UNC, a major eff-up in the organization he heads, but it’s no one’s fault that things didn’t work.
I’m sorry, but isn’t the whole point of having an organization is yo make things work?
As a Trinidadian I congratulate and thank all who supported them.
In the real world a job is something one does, in the virtual world of Trinidad a job is merely something one has!
He’s the president of the TTFA Gerard, the buck stops with him.
There was a major gaffe involving the TTFA this week, a gaffe that humiliated us internationally. Someone needs to be held accountable as it wad not an act of God but rather the result of human error/incompetence. If the person responsible cannot be found the head of the organization must go.
You will forgive me for my notions of Freshwater Yankee standards and accountability, I’ve been away very long so I noticed that those standards work.
Tim Kee should go. He ain’t do jack. Anywhere he was, is, will be. T&T loves an under performer.
this is debacle merely underlines the fact that we are nothing more than 3rd world
So when they sending the money and how much? And I dont know about the rest of Trindad and Tobago but I am not embarassed by Waldrum’s action.
Step down for what, Vernal?
I see no reason for Waldron to have to apologise, he did nothing wrong in my opinion steupsss. As for Tim Kee I really really don’t like that man you know :/
There is no two ways about it, Tim Kee needs yo step down from his position in the TTFA or be sacked before another fiasco of this nature.
Tim Kee’s position was not created for the benefit of Tim Kee, it was created for the benefit of Trinidad and Tobago football, T&T football isn’t benefiting from Tim Kee’s position therefore Tim Kee must go. It’s as simple as that!
Madness yes but I’m not surprised. So they let go Marlon Charles ……because they wanted “international appeal”, well all well, we sure got the international part down.
Why does he have to apologise? Who brought us the embarassment?
Somehow, I’m getting blasted fed-up of the lackadaisical attitude adopted by my fellow citizens, as Tim Kee should be hiding some where or under police protection for what he has done to our little princesses . This incompetent Mayor, should have already tendered his resignation forthwith from TTFF or the masses should placard and protest in-front of the TTFF office and also the Mayor’s office in P.O.S. until he “buss-it”. I hope we ain’t getting set up by the Rowely and the PNM after this brutal stint with PP. Remember he has imposed TimKee on the Burgess of P.O.S. The man is heartless, I’m wondering if he has children……..
Kill the messenger raymond
Nothing will CHANGE in TT SPORTS
Wait Wait Wait you guys will stay there waiting Nothing has change i c
I was wondering why